How to be the Tooth Fairy

Life Stages
 28 Jul 2023

Simple steps for Tooth Fairy success! 

BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

JULY 28, 2023

The Tooth Fairy can make your child’s super wobbly tooth or weirdly mushy gum feel a whole lot more magical, but as a parent, you’ve got some pretty big shoes to fill!  

Setting up the whole Tooth Fairy story, creeping into your kiddo’s room after dark, and switching their pearly white for a gold coin can feel a bit daunting if you’ve never done it before, but don’t worry! 

Here are some pointers to help you sprinkle a little magic and pull off a successful tooth transaction.  

Start with some enchanting Tooth Fairy tales.  

You can expect your child to start losing their baby teeth around the age of six, unless misadventure strikes earlier, but it’s fun to introduce the Tooth Fairy before that first tooth comes loose.  

To help, there are lots of books about the little lady with the wings, including classics like The Night Before the Tooth Fairy and Dear Tooth Fairy (which has removeable pieces, like The Jolly Postman).   

If your child doesn’t like the idea of losing a tooth, then Charlie and Lola: My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever Never Fall Out and My Tooth is Looth! are two funny tales that may change their mind!  

You can also get a bit creative yourself, talking about how much the Tooth Fairy loves sparkly clean teeth, and that time you *think* you saw a glittery wing near your water glass…  

Next, set the scene for Tooth Fairy magic. 

When your child’s baby tooth starts to wobble, you can encourage them to wiggle it more to loosen it up (so says oral health expert Dr Mikaela Chinotti), and you can also talk to your kiddo about how they’d like to prepare for the Tooth Fairy.  

Leaving the tooth under their usual pillow or in a glass of water are two age-old options, and if you feel like getting fancy, you could suggest a shiny little box or perfectly embroidered pillow to hold their pearly white.  

There are also some gorgeous kits you can buy, and we’re sold on the 2023 Tooth Fairy Kit from the Royal Australian Mint (the Tooth Fairy’s official coin supplier since 1920!), which comes with a bespoke $2 coin.  

This Deluxe Tooth Fairy Kit is also delightful, with a picture book, journal and star-shaped plush that will keep each pearly white safe and sound till the Tooth Fairy arrives.  

If your child doesn’t want to give away their tooth – or kinda misplaces it at the last moment – that’s a-ok too. 

One child we know is collecting her teeth to make a bracelet (true story), while another swallowed it in their sleep (it happens!); and if your child is reticent or unable to hand over their precious tooth, they might like to write a little note to the Tooth Fairy explaining their situation and asking for a visit, nonetheless. 

Once your child actually loses their tooth, it’s your time to shine! 

Your first job of the night is to help your child leave their tooth (and/or note) in a prominent place in their bedroom, before wishing them a long and very deep sleep.  

They’ll probably promise to stay awake all night, or nap with one eye open, but if you wait a good while before going back into their room, you should be able to weave your magic, uninterrupted.  

Simply switch the tooth for a bit of money, then get out of there as soon as possible!  

If your child’s eyes do snap open, you can always tell them that you were just doing a quick check to see if the tooth had been taken, and if you’re not sure how much money to leave, then we can tell you that the Tooth Fairy operates under a free market!   

There’s no one price that everyone pays, but a gold coin is a pretty common going rate, and if your child is young, they might actually be more pleased with a big coin (a 50 cent piece), than a little one (a $2 coin).  

Some parents like to pay more for the first baby tooth, then less for the rest; and if your child is older, or they’ve lost a magnificent molar, a bigger payment may also be in order.  

This article has some interesting stats around Tooth Fairy payment, from pedestrian to premium, and there’s the option of giving your child a Tooth Fairy report (or receipt) as well.  

A word of warning, though… 

Once you commit to leaving a Tooth Fairy report, there’s no going back!  

You’ll be printing off this report whenever the tooth comes loose, and from personal experience, we can say that the tooth can come loose while on holiday, while your child is staying with their grandparents, and while the printer is desperately low on cyan! 

The same goes for a Tooth Fairy coin.  

You can’t afford to lose this one, because replacing it isn’t always easy, and if your first child waxes lyrical about their special coin, your younger child/ren will be looking forward to receiving one as well!  

Whatever happens, practise makes perfect. 

Your child will lose 20 baby teeth all up, so there are lots of opportunities to flit into their room and weave your Tooth Fairy magic.  

You might like to keep all 20 baby teeth in a secret place for ever and ever, or throw them away immediately, and whatever approach you take, the Tooth Fairy can be a positive part of family life. 

She eases the shock of losing a tooth, creates magical childhood memories, gives you a chance to twinkle-toe around the place, and inspires healthy dental habits as well. 

This KindiCare article takes you through the ins and outs of caring for baby teeth, with advice from the Australian Dental Association, and although the Tooth Fairy myth might not have as much magic by the time your child loses their last baby tooth, it’s definitely fun while it lasts!